Appleby CollegeAthletics Programme Updates

Athletics at ApplebyAthletics is a key component of the Appleby College experience. It develops physical fitness, athletic skills, school pride, teamwork and a sense of fair play – all important life skills that contribute to a student’s success both inside and outside the classroom.

To ensure that Appleby’s Athletics programme continues to meet the needs of students we recently conducted a comprehensive review of the programme and breadth of activities offered. Through consultations with various members of the Appleby community, including students, parents, employees and alumni, we examined what sports should be offered; what being competitive should look like at Appleby; how often should teams be practicing; and what enhancements were needed to the school’s athletic facilities.

Through thoughtful and constructive ideas shared with the school a number of exciting changes will be introduced to Appleby’s Athletics programme for the 2014-2015 academic year and I encourage you to explore Appleby’s new Athletics programme offering outlined on the following pages.

Marg Hagey Assistant Head of School, Co-curricular Programming

Renewed Commitment to Character and LeadershipTo provide quality athletic experiences for every student through innovative programming, quality coaching and training facilities. To instil in our student athletes a lifelong commitment to physical activity, an appreciation for sport and a passion for representing one’s school and one’s self with pride, respect, integrity and a commitment to teamwork.

Character and leadership development are at the core of Appleby’s Athletics programme. As the following words attributed to Plato attest, the role athletics can play in the development of character and leadership has been recognized since antiquity, “The moral value of exercises and sports far outweigh the physical value.” The Athletics programme at Appleby is modeled to teach the fundamental values, skills and knowledge that our students will use throughout their lives by developing and fostering the life skills they will need to succeed.

Students in Upper One to Senior Two may apply to do all ATHLETICS for all of their co-curricular terms pending approval from Marg Hagey, assistant head of school, co-curricular programming based on meeting the parameters for this exception. Students may apply for EXEMPTIONS based on our current criteria pending approval from Marg Hagey, assistant head of school, co-curricular programming.

INTAKE YEAR ATHLETICS ARTS AND/OR SERVICE

STUDENT CHOICE TERMS

TOTAL NUMBER OF TERMS

CLUB (ARTS OR SERVICE)

Upper One 6 2 4 12 1 per year

Upper Two 5 2 2 9 1 per year

Senior One 2 2 2 6 1 per year

Senior Two 1 1 1 3 1 per year

Appleby Diploma Requirements

Introducing the Appleby College Co-Curricular PassportThe introduction of the Appleby College Co-curricular Passport starting in the 2014-2015 School Year will provide our Upper and Senior school students with increased flexibility in the selection of their co-curricular options. The Passport will allow our students greater opportunity to pursue areas of individual interest whether in Athletics, the Arts or Service, while maintaining our commitment to the development of the whole student through exposure to different pursuits and activities. An Upper One student will now have the option to pursue Arts or Service co-curriculars of their choosing as long as they participate in a minimum of six Athletics co-curriculars before concluding their Senior Two year. Previously, Upper One and Upper Two students were required to take three terms of sport in each of their Upper School years. Athletics exemptions will continue to be offered allowing students to pursue up to 12 terms of sports.

Middle One and Two students will continue to participate in three terms of sports as per the School’s current model and programme.

Increased Varsity Team SupportAppleby’s core sports strategy will be replaced with an emphasis on all varsity sports offerings. Increased resources will be available to all varsity sports based on their level of need, including additional external coaching support in partnership with faculty coaches where gaps exist, a commitment to meaningful travel tournaments, facilities and equipment enhancements. In addition, Appleby will provide concrete support to student athletes in terms of time management and academic scheduling.

Athletics Offerings 2014-2015Fall• Boys Soccer• Boys Volleyball• Cross Country• Girls Basketball• Girls Field Hockey• Martial Arts / Wrestling*• Bronze Cross /

Bronze Medallion• Fitness• Instructional Golf• Instructional Squash• Instructional Tennis• Intermediate Running• Learn to Swim

• Novice Running• Outdoor Games• Pilates / Yoga• Weight Training• Zumba

Winter• Boys Basketball• Boys Hockey• Girls Hockey• Girls Volleyball• Squash• Swimming• Fitness• Indoor Soccer

• Pilates / Yoga• Skating• Weight Training

Spring• Boys Rugby• Boys Softball• Boys Tennis• Girls Rugby• Girls Soccer• Girls Softball• Girls Tennis• Golf• Track and Field*• Coed Badminton

• Fitness• Instructional Badminton• Instructional Squash• Intermediate Running• NLS Certification• Novice Running• Outdoor Games• Table Tennis• Weight Training

* Denotes new additions.

Enhanced Sport Specific Philosophies & StrategiesGreat coaching must be at the core of any superb athletics programme. The enhanced use of professional development, selective use of non-faculty supplemental coaching and annual programme reviews with coaches and the Athletics Director will reflect Appleby’s ongoing commitment to this principle and the teacher-coach model. In addition, coaches across each sport will meet to enhance the development of ‘seasonal plans’ that address philosophical decisions and coaching strategies across age groups. Starting with varsity programs, we will be scheduling debrief and reflection sessions with the Athletics Director and coaches each term. This will offer an opportunity for shared learning, mentorship and professional growth.

New Spirit EventsBringing our community together to celebrate the accomplishments of our students in Athletics, the Arts and Service is what Appleby’s “new” Spirit Events are all about. In each of the Fall, Winter and Spring terms, the student as well as the broader Appleby community (parents, alumni, alumni parents and employees) will be encouraged to come out to celebrate and show their support. Led by our students, these “Hot Ticket” events will feature multiple sports and related Arts, Service and/or Residential Life activities over the course of a weekend.

Upgrading Our Athletics FacilitiesAt Appleby we believe that the environment in which our students learn and play is a major contributor to the overall experience. The transformation of the Memorial Classroom Building is a recent example of this commitment. This, coupled with the school’s dramatic growth in student population over the last 20-30 years, has created a need and an opportunity to introduce a new major addition to our facilities – an indoor athletics and performance building that will transform our capacity for indoor athletics, accommodate the entire school population as well as provide additional performance space options.

Appleby College 540 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, ON L6K 3P1 www.appleby.on.ca

Thank you to Stephen Telling, Stephen Pulford, Brendan Samson, Sharon Creelman, Brooke Millman, Dave Suchanek and Marg Hagey for their commitment and dedication in leading the Athletics Programme review and for the development of the following series of recommendations:• Emphasize leadership and character development• Introduce the Appleby College Co-curricular Passport• Maintain current approach to athletic exemptions• Modify and increase varsity team support• Modify sport offerings to include track & field and

martial arts/wrestling

• Expand morning lifestyle and instructional programs• Enhance sports specific philosophies and strategies• Conduct annual sport program debriefs• Enhance professional development for coaches• Improve academic support for student athletics• Introduce community Spirit Events